Well apparatus.



I PATENTED APR. 4, 1905.

M. E. LAYNE. WELL APPARATUS. APPLIoATIoN FILED 311B. a. i902.

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- PATENTBD APR. 4, 1905.

M. E. LAYNE. y

WELL APPARATUS.

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UNITED STATES Patented April 4, 1905.

MAHLON E. LAYNE, OF ROOK RAPIDS, IO'WA.

-WELL APPARATUS- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 786,301, dated April 4, 1905. Application iiled February 3, 1902. Serial No. 92,382.

To' all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, MAHLoN E. LAYNE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Rock Rapids, in the county of Lyon and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tell Apparatus, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention has reference to apparatus for use in connection with well work, and is particularly designed for employment where in connection with such work the necessity exists of preserving a continuous flow of water through the well casing, while the szne is being sunk into the ground, and while additional sections are being added thereto during the construction of the well. It is known to those skilled in this art, that if the water which is pumped down through the casing as the same is being sunk, is shut oii?, the earth around the casing tends to settle and block further downward movement of the casing, sometimes rendering it necessary to abandon the well, and start over again.

The iirst of the objects of my present improvement is, to make it possible to preserve such continuous flow, while at the same time being able to make all the necessary connections to the well casing and other pipes above ground, and free from any pressure, so that the work can be done with facility, and in plain view.

Another object of my present invention is the provision of means whereby it is possible to put an inner pipe or rod through the well casing, Without cutting off the continuous iow of water, and to make a test at the bottom of the well casing, without in any manner interfering with the work.

Another object of my present invention is the provision of a novel form of plug or valve device for the casing, which is so constructed that central rods or pipes can be put through the same without interfering with the valve, or the apparatus in other respects.

The above, as well as such other objects as may hereinafter appear, I attain by means of a Construction of apparatus which I have illustrated in preferred form in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a vertical section showing a portion of the apparatus which I employ,

Figure 2 is an enlarged section of the parts at the upper end of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section showing the lower end of the apparatus, taken on the line 4 of Figu rel, and

Figure 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5 of Figure 4, showing the apparatus at the lower end of Figure I. i

Referring more particularly to Figure l it will be seen that within the upper end of a well casing 6, which it may be assumed is being rotated into the ground, I provide a back pressure plug or closing device 7, having the leather packing therein 8, and a plurality of i hinge devices 9, which are both valves, since they control openings in the plug 7, and gripping devices, since they are provided with teeth 10, adapted to grip or engage the inside of the casing 6.

To the pipe Il above the plug device 7, I secure a back pressure check valve device, which as a whole I will mark 12, and which comprises the body part 13, and the flap or valve proper 14 which is pivoted at l5, and arranged to seat over the side opening 16, or if it be thrown up into horizontal position, over the upper opening I7, as will be apparent from an examination of the drawings.

This check valve acts in conjunction with the device 7 to prevent backward flow in either the casing or the tube l1 alternately, depending on the position of the flap 14.

Another length of well casing is represented at 18 coupled to the length 6 by the coupling connection 19 as shown, and having another coupling connection 20 at its upper end, to which is secured a nipple 21 and a casing head 22.

The casing head is provided with a side opening into which the pipe or hose 23 is secured, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear, and with an inlet plug 24, carrying a plurality of pivoted hasps 25, adapted to engage projections 26 in the manner shown, whereby the well casing and parts connected therewith are suspended from the tube 27, which has threaded engagement with the part 28 that carries the projections 26. The part 28 is made to lit into the end piece 24 in a hole 29, which is of irregular shape, so that rotation of the one will necessitate rotation of the other, and within the part 28 there is secured an inlet tube 30 which connects it with the upper end of the valve 12. The tube passes through the packing 31 of the stuffing box, formed in the inlet plug 24, this being for the purpose of permitting' the tube 3() to be moved longitudinally relative to the well casing, when the hasps 25 are disengaged from the projections or ears 26, without there being any leakage around the tube 30.

Referring to Figure 4 it will be seen that the plunger iiaps 9, which as I have pointed out, are provided with the engaging teeth or devices 10 :for bitingon the inside of the well casing, are also provided with some kind of packing means 9, to cause them to seat tightly around the lateral openings of the said plunger 7. The plunger iaps are pivotally supported at the upper end at 9b in the manner shown in this ligure. fhile I have in the drawings shown three of such flaps, it is obvious that I am not restricted to just this number, but might use more or less, as occasion would require. I prefer three because the use of three insures a secure hold on each of the three, and an even distribution of the gripping strain upon the inside of the well casing.

I will now proceed to describe the operation of my invention, which is as follows:

Assuming that it is desired to insert an additional length of pipe, and that the hydraulic connection wherein the water is admitted is made to the upper or end part 27, as it is while the casing is being sunk, the first thing to be done is to attach another water supply hose to the pipe 23, afterward shutting off the supply of water through the pipe 27. This will throw the valve 14 up, seating it over the opening 17, and cutting off the flow of water backward through the pipe 30, while at the same time through the opening' 16 continuing to supply water downward through the plug 7, and the well casing, to keep up a continuous iiow of water through the casing and around the same, and prevent the packing ofthe earth around the casing already referred to. It should be observed that when this is done the plug 7, the pressure of the catches being relieved, may be pulled up to the position indicated by the dotted line at 18, witlr the valve 12 projecting above the end of the casing 18 or coupling 20, so that when the pressure is turned on again at 27 and o' at 23, restoring the grip of the teeth 10, and the casing head and connected nipple 21 are disconnected from 20, the lateral opening 16 will be exposed in such a way that the hose which had formerly been connected to the tube 23 can be screwed into the opening 16, restoring the pressure through the central passage of the plug 7, continuing the grip of the teeth 10, upon the inside surface of the casing, which grip had been released by the introduction of pressure through the opening 23 which caused water to equalize on the inside and outside of the plug 7, and release the force exerted against the iaps 9, the release of which engagement of the teeth 10, was of course a prerequisite to the movement of the plug 7 to the upper position indicated by the dotted line 18". Pressure is now maintained through 16 during the change of pipe.

The pipe 30 is next unscrewed and inserted inside another section of casing, after which it is replaced and screwed again into the valve 12, when the pressure is again restored through the pipe 27, which pushes the valve 14 down to the position shown in Fig. 1 and shuts the opening 16, and continues an uninterrupted supply of water down through the well casing at the same time continuing the hold of the dogs or teeth 10 on the inside of the casing. The opening 16 being thus closed, the hose or pipe connection which was screwed therein is disconnected, so as to permit the new section of the casing to be screwed in place, which is effected in the usual manner.

From the above description it is evident that by the improvements disclosed therein it is possible to make such connections as are necessary in rotating a well casing, entirely free from any pressure, and in plain View, without in any wise interfering with the continuous iiow so essential to successful work. It will also be obvious that I have provided an improved form of movable back pressure valve or plug, which is capable of being pulled up as the pipe is rotated or driven down, withoutdifiiculty, and which, at the same time, when it is required, is securely held in place by automatic engagement with the interior of the well casing.

Another object which I have accomplished by the apparatus described is, to make it possible to obtain a test piece from the well below the casing, by the removal of a certain portion of the upper casing, and the insertion of a pipe provided with suitable mechanism for cutting a core, the said pipe being introduced through the plug 7, the interior construction thereof permitting of such operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a well sinking apparatus the combination of a casing, an inlet tube having a grippingdevice for maintaining it in position in the casing, and a double acting valve for al- IOO IIO

ternately admitting fluid directly through the inlet tube and from the side of the inlet tube.

2. The combination of a well casing, a back pressure plug therefor, a set of gripping flap valves connected with said plug for securing the same in the casing, and pipes for introducing water on either side of the liap valves to exert pressure upon the inside casing or release the same, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a well casing and a back pressure plug therein, of a casing head, an inlet tube directly through said head and through the interior of the casing, an inlet through said casing for the admission of fluid between the inlet tube and the casing, and a valve device at the end of the inlet tube to close by pressure outside of said tube against backward flow in the inlet tube and allow of said flow forward down the casing, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a well casing, of a movable pipe therein having a back pressure checking device comprising a double acting valve which closes the interior tube on one side, and on its other side closes an opening through the side of the tube, and means on the said interior tube for automatically holding it in place when the valve is closed against said side opening by the pressure in the interior tube.

5. The combination of a well casing and an inlet tube provided with fluid pressure operated means for maintaining it in position in the casing.

6. The combination of a well casing, an inlet tube with a head provided with means for holding it in position in the casing and having a double valve opening alternately to the interior of the inlet tube and to the space between the tube and casing.

7. A gripping device for the inlet tube of a well casing composed of flap valves seating over openings in the tube and provided with faces adapted to grip on the side of the casing when the valves are closed by interior pressure.

8. In Well sinking apparatus the combination of a casing, a tube therein provided with gripping flap valves automatically operated by liuid pressure in the tube and casing, and inlets for introducing the pressure into either the tube or the casing, substantially as dcscribed.

9. rlhe combination of a casing having a removable inlet plug, With an inlet tube in the casing provided with a back pressure plug, gripping devices to hold said tube in place in the casing, a double acting flap valve opening alternately into the tube and the casing and an inlet in the casing between the inlet plug and the back pressure plug.

l0. The combination with a casing having an inlet plug, of an inlet tube passing therethrough provided with valves and gripping flaps pressed against the casing by pressure in the inlet tube, and the casing being provided with an inlet, whereby pressure may be admitted on both sides of the said gripping flaps to release their hold on the casing, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

MAHLON E. LAYNE. In presence of- PAUL SYNNESTVEDT, PAUL CARPENTER. 

